title: The relationship between coping styles in response to unfair treatment and understanding of diabetes self-care.
abstract: This study examined the relationship between coping style and understanding of diabetes self-care among African American and white elders in a southern Medicare-managed care plan.
  
  
  
  Participants were identified through a diabetes-related pharmacy claim or ICD-9 code and completed a computer-assisted telephone survey in 2006-2007. Understanding of diabetes self-care was assessed using the Diabetes Care Profile Understanding (DCP-U) scale. Coping styles were classified as active (talk about it/take action) or passive (keep it to yourself). Linear regression was used to estimate the associations between coping style with the DCP-U, adjusting for age, sex, education, and comorbidities. Based on the conceptual model, 4 separate categories were established for African American and white participants who displayed active and passive coping styles.
  
  
  
  Of 1420 participants, the mean age was 73 years, 46% were African American, and 63% were female. Most respondents (77%) exhibited active coping in response to unfair treatment. For African American participants in the study, active coping was associated with higher adjusted mean DCP-U scores when compared to participants with a passive coping style. No difference in DCP-U score was noted among white participants on the basis of coping style.
  
  
  
  Active coping was more strongly associated with understanding of diabetes self-care among older African Americans than whites. Future research on coping styles may give new insights into reducing diabetes disparities among racial/ethnic minorities.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Dyke)
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dyke
authors.affiliation: New York University Medical School, New York, New York (Dr Cuffee)
authors.forename: Yendelela L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Cuffee
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham,Birmingham, Alabama (Dr Halanych)
authors.forename: Jewell H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Halanych
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts (Mr McManus, and Dr Allison)
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.affiliation: Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, Waltham, Massachusetts (Ms Curtin)
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Curtin
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts (Mr McManus, and Dr Allison)
authors.forename: Jeroan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Allison
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D015144:Southeastern United States; D014481:United States; D044465:White People